Every year around February 4th, when the sun reaches 315° of the Yellow Longitude, people usher in the first solar term of the year - the Beginning of Spring. When the Beginning of Spring arrives in Suzhou, people traditionally eat some local food. If you are interested in food, let Lao Huangli introduce to you what traditional food Suzhou eats in Lichun.

Early spring dumplings

All four cities and six districts in Suzhou have the custom of eating dumplings at the beginning of spring. There are both white and green dumplings in this Spring Festival dumpling, and the taste can be divided into salty and sweet. The sweet fillings are mostly sesame and bean paste, while the salty dumplings are mostly filled with shredded radish. People believe that eating radish at the beginning of spring has some benefits. Regulating qi and aiding digestion.

Spring rolls

Spring rolls are a home-cooked delicacy often eaten by Suzhou people in spring. They are filled with thin dough and fried. The fillings of Suzhou spring rolls are different from those in the north. Leek meat fillings are rarely used, and cabbage and shepherd's purse meat fillings are often used. For those who are particular, shrimp paste, bean paste, fruits, etc. are also used.

Biting spring and tasting spring are a traditional food culture custom. Wu Zimu's "Mengliang Lu" in the Southern Song Dynasty mentioned two types of "thin-skinned spring rolls" and "zimu spring rolls" Spring rolls. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, spring rolls became a favorite snack of Suzhou people. Today, Suzhou people are no longer limited to eating spring rolls on the first day of spring, and can often eat them in daily life.

Wontons

The status of wontons in Suzhou is equivalent to the status of dumplings in the north. Suzhou’s food is seasonal, but wontons are the most versatile. Wontons are shaped like gold ingots, which means good luck. Naturally, they can be eaten at any time. At the beginning of spring, three fresh wontons, shredded chicken wontons, Kaiyang wontons, bubble wontons, etc. are all good choices.